Taylor Lautner Opens Up About His Struggle With Body Image Issues After 'Twilight' Was Over

The former teen heartthrob found himself 'rebelling against the gym' after the film franchise ended—and started to see his body change.

Feb. 08, 2023

Taylor Lautner

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Actor Taylor Lautner, most famous for playing Jacob in the Twilight film series, came forward recently on a podcast to talk candidly about the toll that making and maintaining the ripped body the character demanded took on his long-term body image.

Talking his his wife (also named Taylor Lautner) on their new podcast The Squeeze, the actor remarked:

"In the first movie I was 140lbs, and in 'New Moon' I was 175...That wasn't my natural body. I had to work very hard for it and very hard just to maintain it."

You can watch parts of his interview below:

\u201cTaylor Lautner reveals that #Twilight led to body image issues later on.\u201d
— E! News (@E! News) 1675378800

After the movies finished, he continued to be plagued by body image issues as media outlets would make comparison pieces discussing his movie physique and his more normal post-filming body.

To finish the interview, he had a message for any of his fans about body image:

"Your body can look unbelievable. You can be ripped, shredded, whatever...if you're not healthy mentally, then that's all for nothing.

Lautner unfortunately has company in being a celebrity with body image issues.

This starts as early as Lord Byron, a poet in the 19th century.

\u201cByron\u2019s infamous \u201cvinegar diet\u201d is the first recorded instance of the public\u2019s obsession with celebrity weight loss. The first modern celebrity, Byron\u2019s public persona of an attractive, gloomy poet enticed Europe, and he wrote constantly of body image, weight, and dieting.\u201d
— \u2741 eliza \u2740\u2014 girlboss era (@\u2741 eliza \u2740\u2014 girlboss era) 1633433164

In recent years, many celebrities have stepped forward to talk about how being in the spotlight has affected their body image issues.

\u201cFrom Rihanna to Tyra Banks, check out celebrities who discussed their struggles with body-image. #NOTEDbyBET\u201d
— BET (@BET) 1533276172

One Twitter user admitted that Lautner's time as Jacob in the films gave them body image issues.

\u201c@enews Yeah, for me.\u201d
— E! News (@E! News) 1675384187

Others pointed out that Lautner's physical transformation and body type in the Twilight series was only the beginning for male actors.

\u201c@enews Now every male actor is encouraged to have their shirts off . He really should get an apology.\u201d
— E! News (@E! News) 1675378800

But this applies to more than actors in Hollywood, a K-pop fan pointed out.

\u201ccelebrities shouldnt have to uphold a certain body image just because they're a celebrity they should be able to do what any other member of society should be able to do. this includes kpop idols, if they want to get piercings, tattoos and dye their hair. they're allowed too.\u201d
— maes occasional edits (@maes occasional edits) 1585058074

Others contextualized this in the larger cultural conversations about body image issues.

\u201c@BuzzFeed Are we surprised that anyone ever has body image issues? Take a look around. We all do at some point thanks to the society we have created for one another \ud83e\udee0\u201d
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) 1675543821

\u201cIf I never read another body-shaming headline about a celeb being too fat or skinny it would not be enough. \n\nStop policing and critiquing other people\u2019s bodies. Negative body-image can lead to serious body dysmorphia, disordered eating, etc. People deserve to love their bodies.\u201d
— Joseph Oteng (@Joseph Oteng) 1521515024

Someone pointed out that even if a celebrity doesn't see your comments about their weight, friends around you might, seeing as we live in this media landscape together.

\u201cas someone with an eating disorder and serious body image issues let me say that the comments that you make about celebrities\u2019 bodies, even if not seen by them, will be seen by somebody who they will still affect a huge amount\u201d
— aliyah (@aliyah) 1596548974

Fans praised the Lautners for being open and honest about mental health struggles.

@nataliehanes7067/YouTube

@sheraeguerrero3330/YouTube

@ashlynnmarie3332/YouTube

@crystaljewelz1069/YouTube

@lgbtARABS/YouTube

@loveanddeath2219/YouTube

@awatifsmind/YouTube

You can watch to the entire interview below:

Taylor Lautner: Fame is a Drugyoutu.be